Connector

ABSTRACT

A connector has a front shell and a back shell. The front shell is provided with a first contact portion and a fixed portion. The first contact portion surrounds a periphery of the fixed portion in a plane orthogonal to a predetermined direction. The back shell is provided with an opening portion and a second contact portion. The second contact portion surrounds a periphery of the opening portion in a plane orthogonal to the predetermined direction. The second contact portion is in contact with the first contact portion in the predetermined direction so that the fixed portion is visible within the opening portion in the predetermined direction and that the back shell is positioned with respect to the front shell. The fixed portion and the second contact portion are fixable to each other using a conductive fixing agent through the opening portion.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a connector which has a shell and a shieldingmeans located rearward of the shell.

Background Art

As a connector of this type, there is a connector disclosed in PatentDocument 1. Referring to FIGS. 19 and 20, the connector 900 of PatentDocument 1 has a shell (front shell) 910 and a back shell 920 which islocated rearward of the shell 910 to function as a shielding means. Inparticular, as shown in FIG. 20, a paddle card (relay board) 950 or thelike is disposed in the back shell 920.

PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS Patent Document(s)

Patent Document 1: JPA 2011-124147

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Problem

in accordance with intended use or usage of the connector, elementsaccommodated in the back shell can be different, For example, there is ademand for a change of an external shape or size of the back shell inorder to mount an integrated circuit (IC) on the paddle card. Taking acost into consideration, it is desirable to deal with the demand bymeans of changing the back shell only. However, there is a problem thatposture of the back shell becomes unstable when the back shell ischanged only.

Therefore, the present invention aims at providing a connector having asimple structure capable of stabilizing posture of a back shell.

Solution to Problem

One aspect of the present invention provides a connector which ismateable with a mating connector in a front-rear direction. Theconnector comprises a front shell and a back shell. The back shelloverlaps with the front shell in a predetermined direction orthogonal tothe front-rear direction. The front shell is provided with a firstcontact portion and a fixed portion. The first contact portion surroundsa periphery of the fixed portion in a plane orthogonal to thepredetermined direction. The back shell is provided with an openingportion and a second contact portion. The second contact portionsurrounds a periphery of the opening portion in a plane orthogonal tothe predetermined direction. The second contact portion is in contactwith the first contact portion in the predetermined direction so thatthe fixed portion is visible within the opening portion in thepredetermined direction and that the back shell is positioned withrespect to the front shell. The fixed portion and the second contactportion are fixable to each other using a conductive fixing agentthrough the opening portion.

Advantageous Effects or Invention

According to the present invention, in a state where the second contactportion of the back shell is in contact with the first contact portionof the front shell, the fixed portion of the front shell and the secondcontact portion of the back shell can be fixed to each other using aconductive fixing agent such as solder through the opening portion ofthe back shell. Thus, the back shell and the front shell are fixed toeach other after positioning of the back shell with respect to the frontshell is performed using the back shell and the front shell.Accordingly, posture of the back shell becomes stable.

Positioning of the back shell with respect to the front shell isperformed using the back shell and the front shell. Accordingly, theposture of the back shell can be stabilized without changing thestructure of the holding portion or the like of the connector inaccordance with the size and shape of the back shell.

An appreciation of the objectives of the present invention and a morecomplete understanding of its structure may be had by studying thefollowing description of the preferred embodiment and by referring tothe accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view showing a connector according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view showing the connector of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an exploded, top perspective view showing the connector ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an exploded, bottom perspective view showing the connector ofFIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the connector of FIG. 1, takenalong V-V line.

FIG. 6 is a top perspective view showing a paddle card and cables,

FIG. 7 is a bottom perspective view showing the paddle card and thecables of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a top view showing a structural body having a connector bodyand a front shell of FIG. 3 and the paddle card and the cables of FIG.6.

FIG. 9 is a front, top perspective view showing the structural body ofFIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a rear, top perspective view showing the structural body ofFIG. 8.

FIG. 11 is a front, bottom perspective view showing the structural bodyof FIG. 8.

FIG. 12 is a rear, bottom perspective view showing the structural bodyof FIG. 8.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged, top view showing a part of the structural bodyof FIG. 8.

FIG. 14 is a top perspective view showing another connector differentfrom the connector of FIG. 1 with regard to a back shell only.

FIG. 15 is a bottom perspective view showing the connector of FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 is a rear view showing the connector of FIG. 14.

FIG. 17 is an exploded, top perspective view showing the connector ofFIG. 14.

FIG. 18 is an exploded, bottom perspective view showing the connector ofFIG. 14.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view showing a connector of Patent Document 1.

FIG. 20 is another perspective view showing the connector of PatentDocument 1. A part of a back shell is detached, and a structure ofinside of the back shell is visible.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

While the invention is susceptible to various modifications andalternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown by way ofexample in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. Itshould be understood, however, that the drawings and detaileddescription thereto are not intended to limit the invention to theparticular form disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is tocover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within thespirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appendedclaims.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5, a connector 10 according to an embodiment ofthe present embodiment is to be mated with a mating connector (notshown) in a front-rear direction. The front-rear direction is shown asan X-direction in the drawings. Moreover, forward is a positiveX-direction, and rearward is a negative X-direction. The connector 10has a connector body 15, a front shell 40 and a back shell 60. The frontshell 40 is also simply referred to as a shell. The front shell 40covers the connector body 15 in part. The back shell 60 overlaps withthe front shell 40 in a predetermined direction orthogonal to thefront-rear direction. In the present embodiment, the predetermineddirection is an up-down direction. The up-down direction is shown as aZ-direction in the drawings. Moreover, upward is a positive Z-direction,and downward is a negative Z-direction. As shown in FIGS. 8 to 12, to arear side of the connector body 15, a paddle card (relay board) 100 isattached. As understood from FIGS. 1 to 4 and FIGS. 8 to 12, the backshell 60 is attached to the front shell 40 to cover the paddle card 100when actually used.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the connector body 15 has a plurality ofcontacts 20 and a holding portion 30 which is made of insulator andholds the contacts 20. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, each of the contacts20 has a contact point portion 22 to be connected to a mating contact(not shown) of a mating connector (not shown). Furthermore, as shown inFIGS. 8 to 13, each of the contacts 20 has a connection portion 24 to beconnected to the paddle card 100.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the front shell 40 has a main portion 42 andtwo protruding portions 44. The main portion 42 covers the connectorbody 15 in part. Each of the protruding portions 44 protrudes rearwardfrom the main portion 42 in the front-rear direction.

The main portion 42 of the front shell 40 is provided with first contactportions 50U and 50L, fixed portions 52U and 52L and two side protrudingportions 54. As shown in FIG. 3, the first contact portions 50U are twoin number. Each of the first contact portions 50U is formed at an upperand rear region of the main portion 42. The fixed portions 52U are twoin number. The fixed portions 52U are completely surrounded by the firstcontact portions 50U, respectively, in an orthogonal plane orthogonal tothe predetermined direction. In the present embodiment, the orthogonalplane is an X-Y plane. In other words, the first contact portions 50Usurround peripheries of the fixed portions 52U, respectively, in theorthogonal plane. In the present embodiment, there is no recognizablephysical boundary between the first contact portions 50U and the fixedportions 52U. In other words, the first contact portions 50U and thefixed portions 52U of the present embodiment are formed as parts of oneand the same plate-like portion. As shown in FIG. 4, the first contactportions 50L are two in number. Each of the first contact portions 50Lis formed at a lower and rear region of the main portion 42. The fixedportions 52L are two in number. The fixed portions 52L are completelysurrounded by the first contact portions 50L, respectively, in theorthogonal plane. In other words, the first contact portions 50Lsurround peripheries of the fixed portions 52L, respectively, in theorthogonal plane. In the present embodiment, the fixed portions 52L aremore protrusive than the first contact portions 50L, in thepredetermined direction. Specifically, the fixed portions 52L protrudedownward of the first contact portions 50L. The side protruding portions54 are individually formed by cutting and raising parts of the mainportion 42, which are positioned at both side portions in a lateraldirection. Each of the side protruding portions 54 protrudes outward inthe lateral direction. In the drawings, the lateral direction is aY-direction.

As understood from FIGS. 3 and 4, each of the protruding portions 44 hasa flat-plate shape and is arranged to extend in a plane defined by thefront-rear direction and an orthogonal direction orthogonal to thefront-rear direction. In the present embodiment, the orthogonaldirection is the up-down direction, i.e., the Z-direction. Moreover, theplane defined by the front-rear direction and the orthogonal directionis an X-Z plane. In the present embodiment, the predetermined directionand the orthogonal direction are identical with each other. However, thepresent invention is not limited thereto. The predetermined directionand the orthogonal direction may be different from each other. Asunderstood from FIGS. 9 to 12, each of the protruding portions 44 has asize larger than a thickness of the paddle card 100 in the orthogonaldirection (a size of the paddle card 100 in the Z-direction).Especially, in the present embodiment, each of the protruding portions44 protrudes out from both outsides (namely, outward in the up-downdirection) of the paddle card 100 in the orthogonal direction.

As understood from FIGS. 1 to 4, the back shell 60 according to thepresent embodiment consists of two members of an upper member 70 and alower member 80.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the upper member 70 is provided with twoopening portions 72, two second contact portions 74, two side openingportions 76 and two side protruding portions 78. The second contactportions 74 surround peripheries of the opening portions 72 in theorthogonal plane. That is, the opening portions 72 are completelysurrounded by the second contact portions 74, respectively, in theorthogonal plane. Each of side portions of the upper member 70 is formedwith one pair of the side opening portion 76 and the side protrudingportion 78. The side opening portion 76 penetrates the upper member 70in the lateral direction. The side protruding portion 78 is formed bycutting and raising the side portion of the upper member 70. The sideprotruding portion 78 is located rearward of and apart from the sideopening portion 76 corresponding thereto in the front-rear direction andprotrudes outward in the lateral direction.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the lower member 80 is provided with twoopening portions 82, two second contact portions 84 and two side openingportions 86. The second contact portions 84 surround peripheries of theopening portions 82 in the orthogonal plane. That is, the openingportions 82 are completely surrounded by the second contact portions 84in the orthogonal plane. The side opening portions 86 penetrate sideportions of the lower member 80 in the lateral direction, respectively.

As shown in FIGS. 8 to 12, the paddle card 100 protrudes rearward fromthe main portion 42 of the front shell 40 in the front-rear direction.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the paddle card 100 has two main surfaces ofan upper surface 102U and a lower surface 102L. The upper surface 102Uand the lower surface 102L intersect with the orthogonal direction. Onthe upper surface 102U of the paddle card 100, a plurality of first pads110, two second pads 120 and a plurality of third pads 130 are formed.Similarly, on the lower surface 102L of the paddle card 100, a pluralityof first pads 110, two second pads 120 and a plurality of third pads 130are formed.

As understood from FIGS. 8 to 13, the first pads 110 are parts to beconnected to the connection portions 24 of the contacts 20 by means ofsolder. The second pads 120 are parts to be fixed to the protrudingportions 44 of the front shell 40 by means of solder. The third pads 130are parts to be connected to core wires 210 of cables 200 by means ofsolder. The second pads 120 are located rearward of the first pads 110in the front-rear direction and located apart from the first pads 110 inthe lateral direction. In other words, the first pads 110 are locatedbetween the second pads 120 in the lateral direction. The third pads 130are located rearward of the second pads 120 at least in part in thefront-rear direction and located inward of the second pads 120 in thelateral direction. That is, the third pads 130 are located between thesecond pads 120 in the lateral direction.

As understood from the aforementioned description, in the presentembodiment, the paddle card 100 is provided with four of the second pads120 in total. One pair of one of the second pads 120 on the uppersurface 102U and one of the second pads 120 on the lower surface 102Lcorresponds to one of the protruding portions 44. Each of the protrudingportions 44 is juxtaposed, in the lateral direction, with two of thesecond pads 120 forming the pair corresponding thereto. The protrudingportions 44 have a size larger than a thickness (a size in theZ-direction) of the paddle card 100 in the up-down direction. Theprotruding portions 44 protrude both upward and downward of the paddlecard 100. Each of the protruding portions 44 extends in the X-Z planewhile each of the second pads 120 extends in the X-Y plane. That is, theplanes in which the protruding portions 44 extend and the planes inwhich the second pads 120 extend intersect with each other. Each of theprotruding portions 44 is fixed to two of the second pads 120 formingthe pair corresponding thereto by means of solder.

In an assembly process of the connector 10, there is a case where aforce is applied to the paddle card 100 by swing of the cables 200 orthe like. Even in such a case, since the second pads 120 are physicallyconnected and fixed to the protruding portions 44 of the front shell 40by means of solder, it can be reduced to concentrate a load onconnection portions between the connection portions 24 of the contacts20 and the first pads 110.

In addition, connection between the second pads 120 and the protrudingportions 44 can be performed in a process same as a connection processfor connecting the connection portions 24 of the contacts 20 to thefirst pad 110 or a connection process for connecting the core wires 210of the cables 200 to the third pads 130. Accordingly, it is unnecessaryto perform a process purely for connecting between the second pads 120and the protruding portions 44 specially, and manufacturing cost doesnot increase significantly.

As understood from FIGS. 3 to 5, the back shell 60 is attached to a rearportion of the front shell 40 as follows. At first, the upper member 70of the back shell 60 is laid over a rear part of the front shell 40 fromabove, so that the side protruding portions 54 of the front shell 40 arefitted into the side opening portions 76 of the upper member 70. Afterthat, the lower member 80 of the back shell 60 is laid over the rearpart of the front shell 40 from beneath so that the side protrudingportions 78 of the upper member 70 are fitted into the side openingportions 86 of the lower member 80. In this manner, the back shell 60 isattached to the rear portion of the front shell 40.

As best shown in FIG. 5, in the predetermined direction, the secondcontact portions 74 are in contact with the first contact portions 50Uwhile the second contact portions 84 are in contact with the firstcontact portions 50L. Especially, in the present embodiment, the secondcontact portions 74 are in surface contact with the first contactportions 50U while the second contact portions 84 are in surface contactwith the first contact portions 50L. Thus, positioning of the uppermember 70 of the back shell 80 with respect to the front shell 40 isperformed while positioning of the lower member 80 of the back shell 60with respect to the front shell 40 is performed.

In the predetermined direction, the fixed portions 52U overlap with theopening portions 72 while the fixed portions 52L overlap with theopening portions 82. Furthermore, the lower fixed portions 52L arelocated inside the opening portions 82 in the orthogonal plane. That is,the fixed portions 52L protrude into the opening portions 82. By fixingthe fixed portions 52U and the second contact portions 74 to each otherusing solder through the opening portions 72 and fixing the fixedportions 52L and the second contact portions 84 to each other usingsolder through the opening portions 82, the back shell 60 can beconnected to the front shell 40. In particular, regarding the lowermember 80 of the back shell 60 and the front shell 40, since the fixedportions 52L protrude into the opening portions 82, a distance from thefixed portions 52L to lower surfaces of the second contact portions 84can be shortened. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it iseasy to connect the fixed portions 52L and the second contact portions84 to each other by means of solder.

In this manner, by bringing the first contact portions 50U and 50L intocontact with the second contact portions 74 and 84 and fixing the fixedportion 52U and 52L to the second contact portions 74 and 84 by means ofsolder through the opening portions 72 and 82, posture of the back shell60 can be stabilized.

Referring to FIGS. 14 to 18, a connector 10A has a back shell 60A. Theback shell 60A of FIGS. 14 to 18 has a size which is larger,particularly in the predetermined direction, in comparison with that ofthe back shell 60 of FIGS. 1 to 4. As understood from comparing FIGS. 1to 4 with FIGS. 14, 15, 17 and 18, the connector 10A is different fromthe aforementioned connector 10 with respect to the back shell 60A onlyand provided with those same as the connector body 15 and the frontshell 40.

The back shell 60A has two main portions 90A and 92A which areplate-like and orthogonal to the predetermined direction. In detail, theback shell 60A has two members of an upper member 70A and a lower member80A. The main portion 90A is provided in the upper member 70A while themain portion 92A is provided in the lower member 80A. The back shell 60Ahas a distance between the main portion 90A and the main portion 92A,and the distance is larger in comparison with a case of theaforementioned back shell 60 of FIGS. 1 and 2. That is, the back shell60A has a size different from that of the back shell 60 of FIGS. 1 and 2in the predetermined direction. In order to deal with this size change,the back shell 60A is provided with coupling portions 94A and 96A.

In detail, the upper member 70A of the back shell 60A has the mainportion 90A and the coupling portions 94A. The main portion 90A islocated apart from the opening portions 72 and the second contactportions 74 in the predetermined direction. The coupling portions 94Acouple the second contact portions 74 and the main portion 90A to eachother. The lower member 80A of the back shell 60A has the main portion92A and the coupling portions 96A. The main portion 92A is located apartfrom the opening portions 82 and the second contact portions 84. Thecoupling portions 96A couple the second contact portions 84 and the mainportion 92A to each other.

In particular, the coupling portions 94A and 96A according to thepresent embodiment have a cylindrical shape with a cross section of atrapezoidal shape in a plane including the predetermined direction (e.g.a plane such as the X-Y plane or the Y-Z plane). To be more specific,the coupling portions 94A and 96A of the present embodiment have thecylindrical shape with side surfaces of the trapezoidal shape. Even if asize of the back shell 60A is changed in the predetermined direction,relative positional relationship of the first contact portions 50U and50L with respect to the second contact portions 74 and 84 can beadjusted in a state same as that in the case of the back shell 60 ofFIGS. 1 and 2 by changing a height (a size in the Z-direction) of thecoupling portions 94A and 96A. Moreover, by bringing the first contactportions 50U and 50L into contact with the second contact portions 74and 84 and fixing the fixed portions 52U and 52L to the second contactportions 74 and 84 by means of solder through the opening portions 72and 82, posture of the back shell 60 can be stabilized.

Although the specific explanation about the present invention is madeabove, the present invention is not limited thereto but susceptible tovarious modifications.

Although the solder is used to connect the front shell 40 and the backshell 60 or 60A to each other in the aforementioned embodiments, thepresent invention is not limited thereto but another conductive fixingagent may be used in place of the solder.

Although the first contact portions 50U and the fixed portions 52U areformed as the parts of the same plate-like portion in the aforementionedembodiments, the fixed portions 52U may protrude upward of the firstcontact portions 50U. Moreover, although the fixed portions 52L protrudedownward of the first contact portions 50L in the aforementionedembodiments, the first contact portions 50L and the fixed portions 52Lmay be formed as parts of one and the same plate-like portion.

Although the second pads 120 are formed on the upper surface 102U andthe lower surface 102L of the paddle card 100 in the aforementionedembodiments, they may be formed on side surfaces (edges orthogonal tothe lateral direction) of the paddle card 100, for example.

The present application is based on a Japanese patent application ofJP2014-115217 filed before the Japan Patent Office on Jun. 3, 2014, thecontent of which is incorporated herein by reference.

While there has been described what is believed to be the preferredembodiment of the invention, those skilled in the art will recognizethat other and further modifications may be made thereto withoutdeparting from the spirit of the is invention, and it is intended toclaim all such embodiments that fall within the true scope of theinvention.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

10, 10A Connector

15 Connector Body

20 Contact

22 Contact Point Portion

24 Connection Portion

30 Holding Portion

40 Front Shell (Shell)

42 Main Portion

44 Protruding Portion

50U, 50L First Contact Portion

52U, 52L Fixed Portion

54 Side Protruding Portion

60, 60A Back Shell

70, 70A Upper Member

72 Opening Portion

74 Second Contact Portion

76 Side Opening Portion

78 Side Protruding Portion

80, 80A Lower Member

82 Opening Portion

84 Second Contact Portion

86 Side Opening Portion

90A, 92A Main Portion

94A, 96A Coupling Portion

100 Paddle Card (Relay Board)

102U Upper Surface (Main Surface)

102L Lower Surface (Main Surface)

110 First Pad

120 Second Pad

130 Third Pad

200 Cable

210 Core Wire

1. A connector mateable with a mating connector in a front-reardirection, wherein: the connector comprises a front shell and a backshell; the back shell overlaps with the front shell in a predetermineddirection orthogonal to the front-rear direction; the front shell isprovided with a first contact portion and a fixed portion; the firstcontact portion surrounds a periphery of the fixed portion in a planeorthogonal to the predetermined direction; the back shell is providedwith an opening portion and a second contact portion; the second contactportion surrounds a periphery of the opening portion in a planeorthogonal to the predetermined direction; the second contact portion isin contact with the first contact portion in the predetermined directionso that the fixed portion is visible within the opening portion in thepredetermined direction and that the back shell is positioned withrespect to the front shell; and the fixed portion and the second contactportion are fixable to each other using a conductive fixing agentthrough the opening portion.
 2. The connector as recited in claim 1,wherein the fixed portion is more protrusive than the first contactportion in the predetermined direction and located inside the openingportion in a plane orthogonal to the predetermined direction.
 3. Theconnector as recited in claim 1, wherein the second contact portion isin surface contact with the first contact portion.
 4. The connector asrecited in claim 1, wherein: the back shell has a main portion and acoupling portion; the main portion of the back shell is located apartfrom the second contact portion in the predetermined direction; and thecoupling portion of the back shell couples the main portion of the backshell and the second contact portion to each other.
 5. The connector asrecited in claim 4, wherein the coupling portion has a cylindrical shapewith a sectional shape of a trapezoid in a plane including thepredetermined direction.
 6. The connector as recited in claim 1,wherein: the connector comprises a connector body and a paddle card; theconnector body includes a contact; the front shell has a main portionand a protruding portion; the main portion of the front shell covers theconnector body at least in part; the protruding portion of the frontshell protrudes rearward from the main portion of the front shell in thefront-rear direction; the paddle card protrudes rearward from the mainportion of the front shell in the front-rear direction; the paddle cardis formed with a first pad and a second pad; the first pad is to beconnected to the contact; the second pad is located rearward of thefirst pad in the front-rear direction and located apart from the firstpad in a lateral direction orthogonal to both of the front-reardirection and an orthogonal direction orthogonal to the front-reardirection; the protruding portion of the front shell has a size largerthan a thickness of the paddle card in the orthogonal direction and isjuxtaposed with the second pad in the lateral direction; and theprotruding portion of the front shell and the second pad of the paddlecard are fixable to each other using the conductive fixing agent.
 7. Theconnector as recited in claim 6, wherein: the paddle card has a mainsurface intersecting the orthogonal direction; and the first pad and thesecond pad are formed on the main surface of the paddle card.
 8. Theconnector as recited in claim 7, wherein: the paddle card has two of themain surfaces; each of the main surfaces is provided with two of thesecond pads which are located apart from each other in the lateraldirection; the front shell has two of the protruding portions; and eachof the protruding portions protrudes out from both outsides of thepaddle card in the orthogonal direction and fixed to one of the secondpads formed on one of the main surfaces and to one of the second padsformed on the other of the main surfaces.
 9. The connector as recited inclaim 6, wherein the protruding portion has a flat-plate shape.
 10. Theconnector as recited in claim 6, wherein: the paddle card is furtherprovided with a third pad to be connected to a connection object; andthe third pad is located rearward of the protruding portion at least inpart in the front-rear direction and located inward of the second pad inthe lateral direction.
 11. The connector as recited in claim 1, whereinthe conductive fixing agent is solder.